Tag: vision

CAT tools

Erika Trabattoni

Computer Assisted Translation or Computer Aided Translation (CAT) is a form of translation where the translator uses specific softwares (CAT tools) to simplify the translation process itself. It must not be confused with Machine Translation, which indicates softwares automatically translating from a language into another.

CAT tools offer a lot of advantages to translators, especially if they work with repetitive texts or with texts pertaining to the same field. First of all, CAT tools are based on Translation Memories (TM) that store Translation Units (TU): each source text is divided into segments and the translator provides his or her translation in the target segment. A Translation Unit is made of a source segment and a target segment, which are stored in the Translation Memory and can be accessed when working on a new translation with similar contents or whenever necessary. When the CAT tool finds a suitable match in the Translation Memory, the translator needs to confirm or modify it: this is particularly useful for recurring expressions and sentences and can save a considerable amount of time, which is of paramount importance in a business where time is of essence.

CAT tools also make different possibilities available to translators for spell and grammar checking, terminology management, text and concordance search, text alignment and project management.

Translators can choose between a lot of CAT tools available on the market: they all exploit the same concepts, declining them in different ways. However, they all aim at creating a translation environment capable of meeting the requirements of the industry, making different tools available to both freelance translators and translation agencies.

Personally, I chose SDL Trados Studio, not only because it is – according to what I have read – the most used CAT tool in the world, but also because I think it is really functional and efficient. I honestly believe that such a CAT tool can make my workflow faster and consistent, also solving issues like terminology consistency: after all, I don’t need to go looking for previously translated files to see how I translated a certain term or sentence for a certain client, my CAT tool does it for me!

 

Post-graduate degree in Medical and Pharmocological Translation

Erika Trabattoni

Working in today’s translation industry often requires specialising in at least one field. Generally speaking, it is possible to distinguish between literary and technical translation, which deals with scientific and technical subjects: these two categories present significative differences and require different approaches and skills.

In order to translate a highly technical text, it is necessary to possess at least basic notions of the topic it deals with: this is why translators and interpreters accurately prepare for every new assignment, gathering general and more specific information in addition to the correct terminology. This preparation becomes less time-consuming when the professional is used to working in a certain field, since he or she just needs to update his or her knowledge to keep up with the latest developments.

Experience plays an important role, but one can also choose to specialise in a certain field before starting to translate texts pertaining to it. That’s what I chose to do: I have recently enrolled in two Post-graduate degrees, one in Medical and Pharmacological Translation, the other in Legal Translation. These two courses – organised by CTI – Communication Trend Italia (an Italian language service provider) – are being held once a week in Milan: lessons will take place from February to July and at the end of the courses, attendants are required to deliver a thesis (their translation of a highly technical text provided by CTI) and to pass an oral exam to test their knowledge and discuss their translation.

In today’s post, I am going to focus on the Post-graduate course of Medical and Pharmacological Translation: after attending the first two lessons, I can already say I am very happy with my choice. Students receive both theoretical and practical preparation: this way, they can gain medical knowledge and apply it to the translation of real texts, also learning the particular characteristics of medical texts and terminology.

I have always been very interested in medicine, which is the reason I have decided to grab this chance to expand my knowledge in this field: I will be studying biology, genetics, anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology and much more. Thanks to this specialisation, I will be able to deliver high-quality translations and interpretation services: knowledge of the topic, familiarity with medical terminology and with the style of medical texts, the ability to peruse the web and distinguish reliable sources from unreliable ones are only some of the skills I will be able to offer my clients in this specific field.

This course is useful and really interesting and I am looking forward to attending more lessons and to hone my skills, thus adding another small brick in my education and in my experience as an interpreter and translator. Wish me luck!

Why an interpreter and translator?

Erika Trabattoni

While still in high school, I decided I would become a conference interpreter and translator. That choice was primarily due to my great passion for foreign languages and for my own language, but also to my wish to put to good use everything I had learnt in high school.

When I started attending university, one of my teachers told us that we should see our career as an empy bag to fill every day with something new and that metaphor shaped the way I see not only my career, but also my life. I embraced the concept of lifelong learning, according to which life is a long path offering those who are willing to grab it the chance to learn more and more with each passing day. The reason this concept appeals to me is probably that I think perfection is a great but unattainable goal, which means always striving to get as close as possibile to it: this gives me a reason to constantly challenge and improve myself because, in the end, life is a learning curve.

Being an interpreter and translator means being informed about the topics you need to translate and the industries you work for. This is what I love of my chosen profession: I can satisfy my thirst for knowledge and – at the same time – make my knowledge available to my clients, facilitating communication between them and a specific target.

This is probably the reason why I’m deeply in love with my job and why I approach every new project with genuine enthusiasm: in every assignment, I see a chance to further my knowledge and my expertise, while simultaneously helping my clients achieve their goals.

Furthermore, I am interested in a variety of subjects, such as law, medicine, art, philosphy, Italian and foreign literature, history, chemistry and biology, marketing, business in general, technology, food, fashion, design, music and so on. Being an interpreter and translator means having the possibility of pursuing my interest in all these topics not only for my own pleasure, but also to meet my clients’ needs.

Translating in itself is a fascinating job because it entails a comparison between different languages and cultures: the translator’s goal is to preserve the original meaning while making a specific text available to a different readership, which implies an in-depht analysis of that readership. Translating can’t be limited to simply transposing single words and sentences from a source language into a target language: translating means rendering the meaning of a source text into a different language and culture, which entails the knowledge of the languages and cultures in question, but also of the principles of communication, of the topic which is being dealt with and of relevant technologies.

Interpreting basically means the same thing, even though the approach and the techniques employed are different: first of all, interpretation happens orally and simultaneously, which means the interpreter has no time to elaborate what is being said by the speaker. An interpreter needs to process the speech immediately, providing a consistent translation to the audience, while at the same time paying attention to his or her tone of voice, pitch, pronunciation and accent.

Translating and interpreting are difficult but rewarding activities: I have always liked difficult things because I think they are the most gratifying and this is something else I love about my job.

When I think about the path which led me to choose this profession, I can’t be anything but happy: perhaps I’m too young to say I made the right choice, but it is how I feel and I am one of those people who think that being content with yourself, being positive and in love with your job and life in general reflect on your relationship with others, be they clients, friends or family.